Why do women over 40 disappear from our screens? This week, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by actress, writer, and producer Sally Lindsay to unpack why midlife women — and their real experiences with menopause, motherhood, and ageing — are still invisible in TV and film.

You might know Sally best from her role as Michelle in The Royle Family, or Shelley Unwin in Coronation Street, or even Piella Bakewell in Wallace and Gromit! But most recently, she's been starring, writing and producing the Madame Blanc Mysteries, in which Sally plays antique dealer Jean White. Sally talks about how important this job is to her – how she's putting midlife women in the limelight – and how women can bring far more to the table both on camera and behind the scenes compared to men.

This is an empowering, funny, and honest conversation reminding us that women in midlife deserve to be seen — and heard.

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Follow Sally Lindsay below:

Sally's Instagram: @sallylindsay73

Watch The Madame Blanc mysteries on Channel 5: https://www.channel5.com/show/the-madame-blanc-mysteries/season-3/d5639acf-4ec1-4a52-b4a8-6fdf7ed378cf

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF...

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com

00:00 – Welcome & introduction

02:02 – Why TV still prefers men in key roles

03:01 – The struggle to get female-led dramas made

04:34 – Where are all the female writers in TV?

05:42 – Motherhood, childcare & losing women in the industry

07:05 – Midlife women and missing roles on screen

08:33 – Why Sally writes roles for women over 50

10:05 – The reality of casting women in midlife

11:04 – Bringing menopause and hot flushes to TV

12:32 – The power (and freedom) of menopause

14:09 – Sally’s personal perimenopause journey

16:02 – Brain fog, anxiety & the fear of losing yourself

18:03 – The life-changing impact of HRT

20:02 – Managing anxiety during menopause

22:04 – The battle women face getting HRT

24:03 – Sally’s experience starting HRT

26:03 – Travelling with HRT & the stress of access

28:04 – If men went through this, it would be everywhere

30:05 – Why has progress on menopause care stalled?

32:02 – Support (or lack of) from friends who didn’t struggle

33:04 – Listener question: Balancing career & family life

36:02 – Listener question: Anxiety, brain fog & confidence at work

39:01 – Final thoughts & where to find support

#sallylindsay #madameblanc #naomipotter

If you could ask menopause specialist Dr Naomi Potter anything, what would it be?

Is It Hot In Here podcast has hit 100,000 downloads! Thank you all for being part of our community. As a way of giving back, Naomi is sitting down today to answer as many questions sent in from all of you about menopause, perimenopause, HRT, midlife, and so much more.

From “What does the future of HRT look like?” to “How did you first gain interest in menopause?”, Naomi shares all. She also chats about future dream guests and more updates about the podcast itself.

What milestone do you think we should aim to reach next? 200K? 500K? Let us know in the comments below!

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 – Intro

0:15 – Why did Dr Naomi Potter start this podcast?

0:42 – How did Dr Naomi Potter end up specialising in menopause?

2:15 – Who would Naomi like to have as a guest on the podcast?

3:16 – Will menopause ever get the level of support it deserves?

4:42 – What's Naomi's secret to balancing podcasting, being a Doctor, and a mum?

5:12 – Is brain fog curable?

6:05 – What does the future of HRT look like?

6:33 – How to get testosterone in the UK?

7:40 – How do we know if oestrogen is working?

8:51 – Can HRT help my skin?

9:27 – What alternatives can I use for HRT if I have had breast cancer?

11:27 – Can you use HRT with epilepsy?

12:20 – Is it OK to cut my HRT oestrogen patch in half?

13:06 – Am I too old for HRT?

14:35 – How do you know if you need more progesterone with a mirena coil?

15:27 – How to stop waking up in the night?

16:58 – Who can you trust online about menopause?

18:00 – Outro

#menopause #hrt #naomipotter

Can you be a boss AND handle menopause?

What’s the secret to balancing a busy worklife, family life AND menopause?

This week on Is It Hot In Here? Dr. Naomi Potter is joined by Executive Director of The National Theatre, Kate Varah.

This woman is no stranger to managing intense workloads, parenting teens, spending evenings at countless lobbying events and networking exercises, navigating marriage life… all while trying to find your feet in menopause.

Kate’s story is a refreshing look at how any of us can thrive when our calendars are full and our hormones are in flux. Naomi even jokes that Kate might be part robot – but as the layers peel back, we get a deeply honest insight into how she really does it.

Together, they explore how workplaces are beginning to talk more about menopause, the reality of being a high-achieving woman in a C-Suite role, and how to manage symptoms while still showing up in high-pressure environments.

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Find out more about The National Theatre: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/home/

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com

#menopause #DrNaomiPotter #perimenopause

Want to become your fittest self in your 40s onwards? This 45 minute guide will give you all of the tools you need.

And no, you don’t need a posh kit, expensive gym membership or even any experience to get started.

In this episode of Is It Hot In Here?, Dr. Naomi Potter is joined by midlife fitness expert Caroline Idiens (AKA ⁨Caroline's Circuits). The two discuss who women can build strength, boost energy, and stay active through perimenopause and menopause. Caroline opens up about her own fitness evolution, how resistance training changed her body and mindset in her 50s, and why short, consistent workouts can be more effective than long gym sessions.

Together, they dive into topics like menopause weight gain, joint pain, low motivation, the power of walking, the truth about protein and hormones, and the often-overlooked connection between movement and mental health. Caroline also shares her tips on how to get started with strength training — even if you’ve never picked up a dumbbell in your life.

Follow Caroline Idiens below:

Caroline's Instagram: ‪@carolinescircuits

Caroline's website: https://carolinescircuits.com/

Caroline's book Fit At 50: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fit-50-Stronger-Fitter-Happier/dp/0241715288

Caroline's YouTube: ⁨@carolinescircuits⁩

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com

00:00 – Intro: meet Caroline Idiens (@carolinescircuits)

01:32 – Why Caroline started strength training in midlife

03:08 – What is resistance training? (and why it matters after 40)

05:10 – Caroline’s workout routine: structure, duration & frequency

07:45 – Walking, hormones & mental health: a powerful combo

09:30 – How strength training boosts mood, confidence & energy

11:48 – Will lifting weights make you bulky? (spoiler: no)

13:22 – Glutes, core & stability: the muscles that matter most

15:00 – Joint pain, menopause & how to modify exercise safely

17:10 – Everyday strength: why midlife fitness isn’t just about looks

19:25 – Menopause & nutrition: the role of protein, sugar & balance

21:40 – Midlife weight gain & belly fat: what's really going on?

24:05 – Sleep & stress in menopause: how exercise can help

26:10 – Caroline’s bedtime routine & supplement stack

28:25 – Struggling with motivation? here’s where to start

30:10 – Building habits that stick: the power of small steps

32:18 – Exercise & anxiety: breaking the spiral

34:00 – Caroline’s go-to modifications for sensitive joints

36:12 – Top supplements Caroline recommends for midlife wellness

38:10 – Avoiding injury after 40: smart training tips

40:15 – Can fitness help with skin, hair & hormone balance?

42:00 – Final advice: keep it simple, stay consistent

#carolinescircuits #menopause #menopauseworkout

Have you heard about HRT but you aren’t sure where to start?

Menopause specialist Dr. Naomi Potter is here to answer the top 10 questions we commonly hear from women when it comes to menopause and HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). From ‘Is HRT safe?’ to ‘What HRT options are there?’ to ‘How do I know if my HRT is working?’ Naomi shares the up-to-date facts — with compassion, clarity, and zero judgement.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice, or just don’t know what options are available to you, this is the clear conversation you’ve been waiting for — warm, honest, and rooted in science.

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com

0:00 – Intro to menopause and HRT

0:26 – What is HRT?

0:57 – How does HRT work?

1:55 – When should I consider taking HRT?

3:18 – What different HRT options are out there?

7:25 – What are the benefits of taking HRT?

9:23 – Are there risks involved in taking HRT?

12:40 – Can I change my choice of HRT?

14:03 – What are the signs that my HRT might not be working?

16:08 – What alternatives are there to HRT?

18:27 – How do I find out more about HRT?

19:13 – Outro

#menopause #perimenopause #hrt

Why are women’s health problems so ignored?

Today on Is It Hot In Here? Podcast, Dr. Noami Potter is joined by BBC presenter and journalist Naga Munchetty. In this powerful, emotional conversation, Naga reveals the decades she spent living with debilitating periods. The pain was so bad that she was regularly passing out, throwing up, and “bleeding half my life”. It took 32 years for Naga to be finally given an adenomyosis diagnosis.

But why so long? And why can so many women relate to this story?

In this conversation, Naga and Naomi talk about the need to better support women’s health – and how Naga’s own experiences will affect her in the next chapter of her life: menopause.

In this episode, Naga opens up about:

💥 Being dismissed and misdiagnosed by doctors

💥 The pain and trauma of coil fittings

💥 Why women's pain is so often minimised

💥 Her journey into perimenopause and finding the right HRT

💥 The fight to change NHS guidance on women’s health

💥 How to advocate for yourself and speak to your Doctor

If you’ve ever felt ignored, belittled, or frustrated by the system when it comes to your health, then this listen will be an hour well and truly spent.

Naga and Naomi hope that you will come away feeling heard, reassured, and empowered to go to their own GP with the information needed to make a real impact for themselves.

Follow Naga Munchetty below:

Naga's Instagram: ‪@tvnaga

Naga's new book It's Probably Nothing: Critical Conversations on the Women’s Health Crisis (and How to Thrive Despite It); https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Probably-Nothing-Critical-Conversations/dp/0008686572

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com

00:00 – Introduction

00:45 – What Is Adenomyosis?

12:25 – Naga on Being Dismissed by Doctors

14:00 – Period Pain, Dismissal & Misdiagnosis

18:00 – The Coil Fitting That Left Her Traumatised

22:00 – Finally Getting a Diagnosis

26:00 – The Link Between Menopause and Adenomyosis

30:00 – The Gap in Medical Knowledge About Women’s Health

33:00 – Are We Taught to Hide Our Pain?

37:00 – Changing NHS Guidelines: A Real-Life Win

43:00 – The Emotional Toll of Being Ignored

47:00 – Navigating Perimenopause

53:00 – Advice for Women Feeling ‘Less Like Themselves’

56:00 – How to Advocate for Yourself at the GP

1:03:00 – The Urgent Need for Change

#womenshealth #naomipotter #nagamunchetty

If you're feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, imposter syndrome, or rising stress levels in midlife — you're not alone.

In this episode of Is It Hot In Here?, Dr. Naomi Potter is joined by the brilliantly funny and refreshingly honest Louise Boyce — also known online as Mama Still Got It.

Louise began her career as a successful model, but in recent years has reinvented herself as a content creator, author, and mum-of-three sharing the real, unfiltered moments of parenting. Alongside the chaos of family life, Louise has been navigating a host of perimenopause symptoms — from brain fog and hot flushes to crippling anxiety.

So how does she manage it all and still find time to feel like herself again?

This conversation is packed with practical advice and reassuring insight for anyone approaching or in the thick of perimenopause. You’ll come away feeling seen, supported — and with a few laughs along the way.

Follow Louise Boyce below:

Louise's YouTube: ⁨@mamastillgotit_⁩

Louise's Instagram: @mamastillgotit_

Louise's TikTok: @mamastillgotit_

Louise's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MAMA-STILL-GOT-HB-Yourself/dp/0008561842

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568826081861

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com

0:00 – Intro

1:12 – Louise on transitioning from modelling to content creator

3:55 – Eating disorders within the modelling industry

5:10 – Being told pregnancy is the end of your career

7:12 – The good and bad of social media

9:45 – Putting perimenopause symptoms down to stress

11:35 – How to prepare for menopause

12:36 – How has perimenopause affected family life?

15:03 – How to talk to your family about menopause

16:32 – Having a baby during perimenopause

17:50 – Sleep problems during menopause

18:42 – Brain fog in menopause

21:15 – A shortage in HRT supplies (patch crisis!)

23:33 – Alternative oestrogen patches

24:33 – Menopause progress has stalled

27:02 – Is imposter syndrome due to menopause or society?

30:35 – Should I take testosterone for menopause?

34:50 – Can testosterone cause hair growth?

36:03 – Do you need to take oestrogen before you can have testosterone?

37:42 – Alternatives to HRT

41:22 – The mental benefits of exercise

43:00 – Can I increase my HRT?

46:39 – What to do if menopause symptoms return

48:44 – Women are being let down

50:18 – The truth behind blood tests for menopause

54:46 – Are night sweats enough to say I'm in perimenopause?

55:43 – How long can I take HRT for?

57:21 – Everyone should use vaginal oestrogen!

59:30 – How can I get rid of my menopause belly?

1:01:27 – What is Louise Boyce up to now?

#menopause #perimenopause #mamastillgotit

How can women thrive in menopause and beyond?

This week, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by former actress, socialite and now fitness author Davinia Taylor. People may recognise her from her Hollyoaks days, when she was often recognised as a young n fun London partygoer. But now at 47, Davinia Taylor feels more alive than ever – as she enters the world of “bio hacking”.

In today’s episode, Davinia talks about her fears of deteriorating as she progresses through midlife into older age. Her mum and Grandmother both passed away at ages Davinia strives to overtake – as do most of us. So what can we do in terms of our diet, daily routine, and mental outlook to future-proof our bodies?

As Davinia has reached menopausal age, her and Dr. Naomi Potter also discuss the health hacks that women should be aware of – in order to optimise their bodies. From ‘Should I be using testosterone?’ to ‘How safe is HRT?’ to ‘What natural remedies could help with menopause?’ there is plenty to dive into within this topic.

With so much medical insight and life advice to share around not only menopause – but staying healthy in midlife as a whole – this episode is not one for women to miss.

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Davinia's Instagram: @daviniataylor

Davinia's new book Futureproof: Build Resilience, Feel Younger, Live Longer: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Futureproof-Build-Resilience-Younger-Longer/dp/1398709654

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF...

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com

Further reading on the psychological sigh: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301051122001296

Further reading on the science of sourdough: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10399781/

0:00 - Intro

0:53 - From overly sluggish to feeling 20 years younger

2:54 - What is biohacking?

3:45 - The psychological sigh

4:52 - Rewiring your brain

6:14 - A fear of not outliving your parents

7:05 - Going full carnivore

8:14 - Managing hormones surrounding menopause

9:00 - Men expect us to just put up with menopause

9:47 - Inheriting hormonal traits

11:20 - Giving addictive meds to an alcoholic

12:20 - Women are the true biohackers

13:16 - HRT and cancer, what are the risks?

18:09 - Should all women be using HRT as a longevity tool?

20:14 - Should women be using testosterone?

21:59 - Should we use wild yam for menopause?

23:37 - Can progesterone increase anxiety?

25:06 - Post hysterectomy and supplementing hormones

27:01 - Oestrogen dominance

28:15 - The impact of plastics in HRT

28:49 - Outro

#biohacking #biohack #daviniataylor